How to Add Multiple Images to a Single PDF on macOS

You can add multiple images to a single PDF on macOS by selecting them in Finder and choosing Quick Actions > Create PDF. For more control over paper size, image scaling, or pictures per page, open the images together in Preview and save the print layout as a PDF.

Both methods use tools included with your Mac. The instructions use English menu labels; the appearance and placement of controls can vary between macOS versions.

The quickest method: Combine images in Finder

Use Finder when you want a straightforward PDF containing your selected pictures. Apple documents this built-in Create PDF workflow.

1. Select your images in order

Open the folder containing your images. Hold Command and click each file you want to include. Select them in the intended reading order: Apple says the PDF follows the order in which you select the files. For a three-picture document, select the first picture, then the second, then the third.

2. Choose Create PDF

Control-click the selection, then choose Quick Actions > Create PDF. Finder creates a PDF automatically with a name similar to the first selected file. Rename the new PDF to something recognizable.

3. Check the resulting pages

Open the PDF in Preview and choose View > Thumbnails. Check that every picture appears and the order is correct. If necessary, drag page thumbnails into the correct positions. Preview saves document changes automatically, so duplicate the PDF first if you want to preserve its initial version.

Use Preview to control the PDF layout

This method is useful when you need a consistent paper size or want to avoid cropping images with different proportions.

1. Open the images together

Select the pictures in Finder, Control-click, then choose Open With > Preview. If they open in separate windows, go to Preview > Settings > Images, select Open groups of files in the same window, and reopen the group. Apple explains this setting in its guide to displaying several files together.

2. Arrange and select the thumbnails

Choose View > Thumbnails. Drag the image thumbnails into the desired order. Click a thumbnail, then press Command-A while the sidebar has focus to select the entire group. Opening several images together does not, by itself, save them as one PDF.

3. Open the Print dialog

Choose File > Print, or press Command-P. If you are printing selected thumbnails, enable Selection in the Preview options when available. Check the preview's page count before continuing: for three images with one image per page, it should show three pages.

4. Choose how the pictures fit

Select the required paper size and orientation. In the Preview section, choose Scale to Fit > Print Entire Image to keep the whole picture visible. Fill Entire Paper can crop it.

In Layout, keep Pages per Sheet at 1 for one picture per PDF page. Choose a higher value only if you want a contact sheet. These controls are covered in Apple's Preview printing instructions.

5. Save the complete document as a PDF

Open the PDF pop-up menu in the Print dialog and choose Save as PDF. Enter a filename and location, then click Save. This creates a file rather than sending the document to a physical printer. Apple also provides a guide to saving documents as PDFs.

Reopen the saved file and check every page for missing pictures, unexpected cropping, and unreadable details before uploading or sharing it.

Fix missing pages or an oversized file

• Only one image appears: Return to Preview, select all the intended thumbnails, and check the print selection and page count again before saving.
• Pictures are cut off: Use Print Entire Image instead of Fill Entire Paper. White margins are expected when the picture and paper have different proportions.
• The PDF is too large: Open the finished PDF in Preview, choose File > Export, and select Reduce File Size from the Quartz Filter menu. Save under a different filename. Apple's PDF compression guidance warns that quality can decrease, so compare small text and image detail with the original.